In a custody proceeding, the role of the court is to determine the "best interests" of the child. The court will consider the child’s physical, educational, spiritual and emotional needs, as well as the parents’ fitness and parenting skills, the child’s physical, intellectual and emotional development, the child’s preferences, the location and attributes of each parent’s home, the qualities of the school systems, neighborhoods and facilities where each parent resides, and other factors that affect the best interests and welfare of the child.